3 Buses Explode in Israel in Suspected Terror Attack

THE NEWS

On February 20, 2025, three empty buses exploded in Bat Yam, a suburb south of Tel Aviv, in what Israeli authorities suspect was a coordinated terrorist attack.

The blasts occurred in parking lots around 7:30 PM local time, with no casualties reported. Police discovered additional unexploded devices, suggesting the attack was intended for rush hour the following morning, potentially causing mass casualties.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered heightened military operations in the West Bank, while Defense Minister Israel Katz vowed to “dismantle terror infrastructure.” The incident unfolded amid a fragile ceasefire with Hamas, already strained by disputes over hostage remains returned earlier that day.

TIMELINE

Evening, Feb 20: Initial Explosions

• Multiple Blasts in Bat Yam: Witnesses report three buses catching fire due to explosions in different locations of the city, just south of Tel Aviv. Police label it a “suspected terror attack,” noting the buses were fortunately empty.

Confirmation of Bombs on Three Buses

• No Injuries: Officials confirm the blasts occurred on parked, unoccupied vehicles. Bomb squads are deployed to secure each site and begin searching nearby buses for additional devices.

Unexploded Devices Found

• Bomb Disposal Effort: Police discover two more IEDs (improvised explosive devices) planted on other Bat Yam buses. Experts defuse these bombs, which appear identical to the ones that detonated.

Nationwide Transport Halt

• Transport Minister Miri Regev Acts: In an unprecedented move, Regev suspends bus, train, and light rail service countrywide. Drivers are ordered to stop and inspect vehicles for any signs of explosives.

Massive Security Sweep

• Police & Military Operation: Thousands of buses and train cars are checked overnight. In Bat Yam, a large-scale manhunt begins for suspects seen in CCTV footage, and the public is warned to stay clear of affected areas.

Alleged Hamas Affiliation

• Claim of Responsibility: A group claiming ties to Hamas’s Qassam Brigades posts on Telegram, hinting it orchestrated the plot. Officials suspect the bombs originated in the West Bank.

IDF to Intensify Operations

• Defense Minister’s Directive: Defense Minister Israel Katz orders the military to block entry to parts of the West Bank and launch raids on suspected terrorist networks in Tulkarm and other camps.

All Devices Accounted For

• Nationwide Search Ends: Police confirm three bombs exploded and two more were defused, all featuring similar timers. No further explosives are found, and transport gradually resumes.

Public Transport Resumes

• “All-Clear” Given: Buses, trains, and light rail restart normal service. Schools in Bat Yam open as scheduled, though a large police presence remains. Officials say the search for culprits continues.

REACTIONS

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu: “We will chase the terrorists and destroy their infrastructure. This attack only strengthens our resolve.”

Defense Minister Israel Katz: Promises to intensify military operations, ordering immediate raids and sealing certain West Bank areas to prevent suspects’ escape.

Transport Minister Miri Regev: Institutes the national bus and rail shutdown to allow bomb squads to inspect vehicles, calling the measure a “necessary step to protect lives.”

Police Spokesperson Asi Aharoni: Praises alert bus drivers for spotting suspicious packages; confirms all discovered IEDs shared a consistent design.

Central District Police Commander Haim Sargarof: Notes the explosives resembled devices from recent West Bank attacks, likely pointing to a terror cell’s organized operation.

Hamas-Affiliated Battalion in Tulkarm: Issues an online statement claiming “revenge,” though official Hamas sources in Gaza stay silent. Israeli intelligence strongly suspects West Bank-based Hamas networks.

WHAT'S NEXT

Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to carry out "an intensive operation against centres of terrorism" in the West Bank, the prime minister's office posted on X a short time ago.

Netanyahu also ordered the police and the Israel Security Agency "to increase preventative activity against additional attacks in Israeli cities", his office said.